Shipwrecks in the South China Sea

Shipwrecks with Chinese Ceramics
The ancient maritime trade routes usually led the ships carring porcelain and other Chinese wares to transshipment ports in Southeast Asia, where their wares were unloaded and then loaded on to other ships for the voyage to Europe, or directly through the Malacca straits to South Asia. Shards from wrecks have been found along South Asian coasts to North Africa.

One of the earlier trading routes was the western route via the kingdom of Tondo, in Luzon (Philippines). Ships from China would bring their wares there, then they would be shipped southward along the east coast of the South China Sea to Majapahit and other Asian kingdoms in Southeast and South Asia.

The western routes lead along the coasts of Vietnam and the Malayan peninsula, and then eventually through the Malacca Straits to South Asia. For a long time wares went to Malacca for transshipment to South Asia and Europe. Later, when the Dutch Eastindia Company (VOC) had their headquarters for the region in Batavia (Jakarta), their merchandise would be transshipped via Batavia.

It is no wonder, therefore, that a large number of wrecks can be found off the coasts of the South China Sea, along the ancient sea routes leading toward the Malacca Straits.

Ceramic cargoes were not limited to Chinese origins, however. In that distant past Vietnam and Thailand also exported large quantities of ceramics, as is proven by cargoes in the area, and Japan was also an important exporter for some time.

Why some shipwreck ceramics are in excellent condition

• Protection from the sea, sediments, waves, and other external causes.
• Protection from marine growth.
• packed in straw, small items placed in large storage jars.
• Protection from fishing nets and surface ceramics, destruction, etc.